Tips for Buying Nail Clippers for Dogs

One thing dogs hate is getting their nails clipped. Therefore, many pet owners prefer doing the deed at home so that their pooch is more at ease. This Buzzle article helps you choose the perfect nail clipper for your dog.

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"A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than you love yourself."

― Josh Billings

There are two basic types of nail clippers: guillotine style and scissors type. Choosing between these two does get a little tough. That's why, to make things easy for you, here are some useful tips.

Understand the Working

There is a massive difference in the working of the two types of nail clippers. The guillotine style has a stationary hole through which you insert your dog's nail. The blade slides up and down when you squeeze the handles together, and the nail gets cut. On the other hand, with scissors-type trimmers, you have handles like those on scissors, with semicircular blades attached at the end of them. You place the blades around the nails and clip them by applying pressure on the handle.

Scissors-type Trimmer

Guillotine Style Clipper

Size of the Dog

While contemplating which clipper to buy, you have to take the size of your dog into consideration. If you have a big dog, then using a pair of large scissors-type clippers is the best option. For medium-sized breeds, the best option is scissors-type trimmers, and for small-sized breeds, a guillotine style clipper is more appropriate. You may be wondering why the guillotine style clipper is not advisable for large dogs; it is primarily because, when you use this clipper on large breeds, the blades become blunt much faster due to the thickness of the nail, and you will have to keep replacing the blades due to this.

Quality of the Clipper

The nail clippers that you choose should be made of stainless steel so that they can be cleaned easily. Also, stainless steel blades last longer than blades made of any other metal. The handles should be comfortable for you to hold, as well as durable. All in all, the clipper you buy should be able to last years; therefore, they should be from an authorized pet product store, and should be approved by the ASPCA and RSPCA. There are new electric clippers in the market that help you clip the nail without getting damaged, but they are not as long-lasting as the manual ones. Also, trimmers with styptic powder handles are also available which are a good choice.

Comfort Factor

When you go to the pet store to choose a nail clipper, hold each one and check the comfort level. If you are a right-handed person, then hold the clipper in your left hand, and only if it is comfortable in both hands, you should go ahead with the purchase. The grip should not be too hard, but not too soft either.

Always remember to be careful while clipping your dog's nails. In case of bleeding, do not panic, as it happens when you cut the nail too short. In cases like these, you can soak up the blood in some cotton, and apply an antiseptic solution to the nails. Talk to your vet before buying your clippers so that he can suggest a few reputed ones for your dog.